Apparatus for drying hosiery and the like



F. L. BICKEL.

APPARATUS Foa nnvme HosuERv AND THE me.

APPLICATION FILED MAYS. |9191 Patented June 29, 1920.

W/TNESSES FREDERICK L. BICKEL, OF IVYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING HOSIEBY AND THE LIKE.

Specieetion of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1920.

Application led Hay 81, 1919. Serial No. 300,845.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. BICKEL, a citizen of the United States,residin at Ivyland, in the county of Bucks and tate of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forDrying Hosiery and the like, whereof the followin is a specificationreference being had to tie accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an apparatus for drying hosiery and the like ofthe type consisting of a number of fiat hollow forms having theconfiguration of the articles to be dried, and to the interior of whichsteam is su plied to furnish the necessary heat.

he invention relates more particularly to a drying apparatus havin thegeneral characteristics above outline and, in which the forms areconnected in serial relation, so that the steam is caused to Howsuccessively through the forms in its passage through the series.Heretofore, considerable difficulty has been experienced in theoperation of such apparatus owing to choking or cloggin caused by thetrapping of air and water o? condensation in the constricted circulatorychannels of the com aratively thin forms, thereby preventing t e passageof the steam.

It is the purpose of m invention to overcome these difficulties. o thisend, I have devised means whereby the steam is restricted to passage ina definite direction through each form so as to establish a sin leavenue of circulation through the series. The invention also comprehendsindividual means whereb in the event of the clo ging of any of the ormsby air and water o condensation, such forms will be temporarilyautomatically short circuited to permit the passage of the steam to theothers of the series, said means being at the same time instrumental inestablishin a balanced pressure throughout each of t e clogged formswhereby the condensation is given an opportunity to dissipate, as aresult of which, such forms are again automatically rendered operativein the normal manner with relation to the series.

The structure whereby I attain the ends set forth above will be bestunderstood from the descri tion which follows.

In the rawings, Figure I, is an illustration partly in elevation andpartly in section of a portion of a drying apparatus convenientlyembodying my invention.

gig. II, is an end view of one of the forms, an

Fig. III, is a plan sectional view alon the plane of the arrows III-IIIin Fig.

The forms l, are of the hollow type and for convenience of illustrationare herein shown as having the confi ration of half hose. Said forms aresubdivided internally by a median partition 2, to afford definitechannels for steam circulation. The base lianges 3, of the forms arebolted to the corresponding anges 4, of fittings 5, interposed in serialrelation in a horizontal line conduit 6, which is communicative,preferably at the left hand end, with a source of steam supply. Thesefittings are formed with trap pockets 7, in turn subdivided by verticaltransverse baiiles 8, which virtually constitute extensions of thepartitions 2, of the forms proper. Said baffles have their lower endsspaced from the bottoms of the traps to afford b passes which arenormally water scale as shown. The interiors of the fittings arecommunicative with the forms throu h the o enings 9 9, and a resilientgas et 10, disposed between the flanges 3, and 4, insures a steam ti htjoint.

The operation of the invention 1s as follows:

The steam enters the conduit 6, at the left and by reason of the normalsealing of the trap 7, is obli ed to turn upwardly into the rst form anfollow the course of the arrows at the left of the median portion 2.After rounding about the upper end of said partition, the steam passesdownwardly to the right of the same and into the succeeding section ofthe conduit 6, and thence to the next form iny the series. Anycondensation accumulating in the form, drips downwardly by gravity intothe trap. Vthen the several traps become filled with water, the overiowis carried olf through the conduit 6, and is discharged with the spentsteam at the end of the apparatus. By the construction set forth, it isto be noted that the condensation is separately collected from each formand not carried from 'one form through the succeeding forms before beingdischarged. In this way clogging of the apparatus is positivelyprevented in the normal operation of the apparatus.

As steam is initially admitted to the apparatus when cold, thecondensation in the forms takes lace so rapidly that they become cloggedtherebv constituting a temporary barrier to the passage of the steam.When this resistance becomes great enou h to overcome that offered bythe water seal 1n the trap, the latter breaks down, thereby permittingthe steam to by pass to the opposite side of the baille 8, and into thenext section of the conduit 6. As a result of this action, the pressureon both sides of the diaphragm 2, of the clogged form is equalized sothat the obstructing condensation is afforded an opportunity todissipate and find its Way into the trap. As soon as the form isrelieved, the trap will re-seal itself and the unit thereafterfunctioning in the pro er manner. B following this same metho ot'reasoning t roughout the series, it will be seen that the apparatuswill, in a compara tively short time, automatically adjust itself tonormal conditions of operation.

From the foregoing, it is to he noted that the direction of circulationof the Steam through the individual forms is denitely determined andthat the passage of the steam through the apparatus, as a whole, isrestricted to a single avenue.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. An apparatus for drying hosiery and the 'like consisting of a numberof hollow forms arranged in serial relation; means for normally causinga heating medium to circulate over a definite course through each formand in succession through the series, said means, in the event of theclogging ot' any of the forms, having capacity to effect the shortcircuiting of the clogged forms without interrupting the circulationthrough the remainder of the series.

2. An apparatus for drying hosiery and the like consisting of a numberof hollow forms interposed in serial relation in a steam supply conduit,said forms having ndividual traps for collecting the water ofcondensation.

3. An apparatus for drying hosiery and the like consisting of a numberof hollow forms interposed in serial relation in a steam supply conduit,said forms having iudividual water sealed pockets which normally serveas traps for the water of condensation; but which, in the event of theclogging of any of the associated forms, will permit the steam to bypass and supply the remainder of the system.

4. An apparatus for drying hosiery and the like consisting of a numberof hollow forms interposed in serial relation in a steam supply conduit,each of said forms having a median partition whereby the steam isobliged to normally follow a definite circulatory path through the form;a trap for collecting the water of condensation, said trap having atransverse baille forming a continuation of the said median partition ofthe form, and terminating short of the trap bottom to ail'ord a by )asswhich is normally sealed by the water o condensation, but which, in theevent of the clogging of the form, permits the passage of the team tosupply the remainder of the sysern.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsyl- Vania, this twenty-ei lrhth dav of Mav 191).

FREDE IGK L. BicKEL. lVitnesses JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLER'roN.

